In hot spring areas, you can enjoy a wide variety of local cuisines and seasonal flavors that make the most of the natural bounty of the region. Across Japan, hot spring destinations offer dishes that are unique to their specific location, using local ingredients, which is one of the highlights of traveling to these areas. Here are some examples of popular dishes in hot spring areas:
Seafood Dishes
In hot springs near the ocean, there is an abundance of dishes made with fresh seafood. For instance, in Izu and Atami hot springs, popular dishes include sashimi, sushi, and seafood bowls made with locally caught seafood.
Mountain Delicacies
In hot springs located in mountainous areas, you can enjoy dishes made with game such as wild boar and deer, as well as mountain vegetables and mushrooms. For example, in Kusatsu and Noboribetsu hot springs, you can taste local cuisine made with regional vegetables and wild plants.
Unique Local Dishes of Hot Spring Areas
Some hot spring areas have their own unique dishes. For example, Beppu hot springs’ “Hell Steaming” is a healthy and unique cooking method where food is steamed with the steam from hot springs.
Seasonal Flavors
Japanese hot spring destinations offer dishes made with seasonal ingredients. In spring, bamboo shoots and wild plants; in summer, sweetfish and eel; in autumn, chestnuts and new rice; and in winter, crab and blowfish, allowing you to enjoy the flavors unique to each season.
Traditional Japanese Cuisine
Many hot spring inns offer kaiseki meals, which allow guests to enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine using local ingredients. Seasonal kaiseki meals are an artistic culinary experience that can be enjoyed with the eyes as well.
These dishes make the stay in hot spring areas even more special. Enjoying delicious local cuisine made with regional ingredients after soaking in a hot spring is one of the great pleasures of traveling. The cuisine offered in each hot spring area reflects the culture and traditions of the region, so be sure to enjoy the local dishes on your trip.
